Wheel frame with molded plastic tongues

ABSTRACT

A finned lug wheel frame assembly is provided wherein the frame has openings extending about the periphery of the same, and upon which plastic rings bearing a series of tongues or lug portions are mounted. The tongues or lugs extend about the plastic ring alternately with spaces and these spaces are cut to provide opposed beveled faces and fins upon the lugs from which road gatherings of mud, water and snow can be readily expelled with the release of the lug portions from the ground surface. The lugs are generally of hexagonal section and tapering from their base outwardly and inwardly to their outer end leaving a flat hexagonal shape road contact face. The rows of lugs and their integral rings are laterally spaced upon the rim so as to provide openings through which road gatherings may be passed into the rim upon engagement with the road surface and outwardly of the rim by centrifugal action so as to keep the tire and rim free of such road gatherings.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Nandor Goldberger 37-15 Parsons BlvcL, Flushing, N.Y. l 1354 [211 App]. No. 72,346

[22] Filed Sept. 15, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [54] WHEEL FRAME WITH MOLDED PLASTIC 174,186, 323, 324, 301; 301/39 CC, 40 R, 43, 44A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RE14,340 8/1917 Hosch 301/39 CC 3,463,063 8/1969 Caron et al. 94/50 3,494,402 2/1970 Goldberger 152/323 Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Robert Saifer AttorneyPolachek & Saulsbury ABSTRACT: A finned lug wheel frame assembly is provided wherein the frame has openings extending about the periphery of the same, and upon which plastic rings bearing a series of tongues or lug portions are mounted. The tongues or lugs extend about the plastic ring alternately with spaces and these spaces are cut to provide opposed beveled faces and fins upon the lugs from which road gatherings of mud, water and snow can be readily expelled with the release of the lug portions from the ground surface. The lugs are generally of hexagonal section and tapering from their base outwardly and inwardly to their outer end leaving a flat hexagonal shape road contact face. The rows of lugs and their integral rings are laterally spaced upon the rim so as to provide openings through which road gatherings may be passed into the rim upon engagement with the road surface and outwardly of the rim by centrifugal action so as to keep the tire and rim free of such road gatherings.

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SHEET 1 or 3 IN VENTOR.

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SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR.

NANDOR GOLDBERGER A TTURNE Y5 PATENIEUIIEEZMTI 3,530 5 SHEET 3 [IF 3 NANDOR GOL RGER BY 7 I W5? ATTURNEXS WHEEL FRAME WITH MOLDED PLASTIC TONGUES This invention relates to a hard plastic molded finned lug and rim assembly for vehicle wheels.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a molded plastic finned lug tire that is adapted to provide a safe and soft ride in a vehicle and which are airless and puncture proof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a molded plastic finned lug and rim assembly in which lugged rings are mounted upon the tire rim by metal plastic gripping rings.

It is another object of the invention to provide a molded plastic flnned lug tire in which the lug portions of the tire are shaped to reject road gatherings and wherein the rim on which the molded plastic rings are secured are provided with openings lying between spaced rings of the plastic lugs to allow road gatherings to pass into and out of the rim under pressure of the vehicle upon the ground surface and by centrifugal action as the wheel is rotated.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a plastic finned lug tire while being free from puncture will be adapted for abrupt braking and for the movement of the vehicle about curves regardless of condition of the road, whether wet or covered with ice.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a plastic finned flexible lugged tire, having the above objects in mind, which is of simple construction, safe to use, easy and inexpensive to manufacture, durable, has long wear, low vulnerability, good shock-absorbing quality, effective and efficient in use.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the molded plastic finned lug tire and the mountable wheel embodying the features of the present invention according to one form thereof.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the finned lug tire and rim.

FIG. 3 is a radially extending sectional view of a finned lug and rim as viewed on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the rimmed wheel plastic lug ring and mounting metal ring for the lug ring to mount the same upon a latticed wheel rim and according to another form of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevaticnal view of the assembled tire lug ring and latticed wheel rim of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary radially extending sectional view of the assembled plastic lug ring and lattice rim of FIG. 4 as viewed on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a collective perspective view of still another form of the invention and of a wheel rim formed of laterally spaced squirrellike cage members and one of the plastic lug rings with metal grip ring thereon and separated from the wheel rim.

FIG. 8 is a radially extending sectional view of the plastic lug ring and inner metal mounting ring as viewed on line 88 of FIG. 7 and showing the manner in which the metal mounting ring grips the plastic lug ring.

FIG. 9 is a radially extending sectional view, similar to FIG. 8, showing a different inner metal grip mounting ring for the plastic lug ring.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, represents a metal tire rim having a series of rows of circumferentially spaced elongated slots 16 extending completely about the rim 15. The rim 15 is connected by circumferentially spaced radially extending flat metal spokes or arms 17 to a hub or mounting shell 18 and rigidly secured to the axially extending wall thereof. This hub shell 18 receives the wheel hub of the vehicle and the shell 18 with the spokes l7 and rim 15 is demountably secured to the wheel hub in the usual manner by screws, not shown, that are extended through holes 19 on the front face of the shell hub 18.

The rim 15 is circular and on its outer surface there is provided a flanged rib 21 at laterally spaced locations upon the outer surface of the rim 15 through which the holes 16 extend. These flanged ribs serve for the gripping of a molded plastic finned lug ring in which the flanges of the ribs 21, as indicated at 22, enter side grooves 23 to hold lugged plastic ring 24 in place on the outer surface of the rim 15.

Each of the plastic rings 24 are provided with lugged portions or tongues 26 that are spaced by radially extending slots 27. The slots are cut to provide beveled faces 28 and 29 upon the lugs 26 at the opposite sides thereof and in affect provide fins upon the lugs to facilitate the removal of snow, water and mud from the tire assembly when being used on a vehicle. These lugs as the tire is used will be squashed and bent in all directions, forwardly, rearwardly and laterally, brushing along and serving to provide traction for the wheel, but always returning to a radially normal position when lifted from its contact with the ground thereby changing its shape and serving to discard from the lug as this is effected any accumulation of mud or snow or ice thereupon. At the same time any water, snow or mud that may have passed through openings 16 in the rim 15 to the center thereof will, upon accumulation between spokes 17 thereof, be passed outwardly under centrifugal action effected by the rotated wheel into space between the lug rings and outwardly of the lugs 26 thereof.

It should be noted that each lug ring 26 is solid on its inner periphery for connection with the flanged ribs 21 and that several rings of the molded lugs are held in spaced relationship across the face of the rim by the ribs 21 thereby providing space through which material may be readily passed. The plastic rings 24, as will be noted from FIGS. 1 and 2, are turned relative to each other to locate lugs 26 of each alternate ring laterally aligned with the slots 27 of the adjacent lug rings. Thus there has been provided a tire of rubberlike plastic with flexible radially extending lugs bendable in all directions to provide a cushioned ride and when released from out of contact under the weight of the vehicle with the ground will free itself of any collection of mud, snow or water that may have collected upon it and wherein the rim is provided with elongated openings so that any collection of road material will be expelled under centrifugal action through the openings in the circumferentially extending ribs 21 that serve to space the plastic lugged rings on the outer surface of the tire rim l5.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, 31 represents a tire rim formed of latticework 32 with bar elements spaced from one another at an angle and criscrossing with one another throughout the full circumferential extent of the rim. This latticework 32 provides a solid construction yet a partially open one through which snow, mud and water can pass when the assembled tire rim and plastic molded rings 33 are, assembled thereon. Within the rim 3] is an annular-shaped, ring 34 having its outer periphery welded and secured to the inner faces of the latticework 32 intermediate with width of the rim. The inner periphery of the ring 34 has inwardly extending bosses with holes 36 therein through which vehicle wheel-attaching bolts can be extended to fix the tire assembly to the wheel of a vehicle. Elongated arcuate shaped slots 37 are annularly spaced about the ring 34 to allow free flow of road surface gatherings there through as is similarly permitted through the lattice openings of the rim 31.

To eflect the assembly of the plastic ring 33 upon the lattice work 32 of the rim 31, a metal ring 38 of channel and inwardly flanged section is used. The inner diameter of the ring 38 fits flush upon the surface of the lattice work 32, and these metal rings bearing the plastic rings 33 are laterally spaced from one another and rigidly welded or secured to the surface of the latticework 32 allowing a space 39 between the plastic ring assemblies which is aligned with the openings of the latticework so that as the tire travels upon the road surface mud, snow or water may pass inwardly into the rim space and will through the same openings and other openings therein be dispersed outwardly by centrifugal action.

The molded plastic rings 33 are generally shaped as above described and have grooves 41 on the opposite sides of the same to accommodate oppositely and opposing inturned flanges of the metal mounting ring 38. The rubber ring 33 has flexible finned lugs or tongues 44 extending in series about the periphery of the ring with alternate spaces 45 therebetween with beveled side faces 46. As the lugs upon being bent and misformed under the load of the vehicle and released these lugs are so shaped, tapered and finned that any road surface gatherings that may have accumulated thereon will be released by the resilient memory action of the lug plastic. Any road gatherings which may have been squashed through this annular space 39 between the tire rings 33 and latticework 32 will be returned through the latticework and the space 39 as the tire is continued to be turned as a result of centrifugal action.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a modified form of construction is provided wherein a squirrel-cagelike rim is used providing spaced bar elements 52 providing for transversely extending elongated spaces 53 through which water, mud and snow can pass. Fixed intermediate the width of the rim 51 inside thereof is an attaching annular ring member 54 having wheel-attaching bosses 55 and arcuate shaped elongated openings 56 to accommodate lateral flow of road gatherings from one side of the tire rim to the other.

A combined metal ring 57 of channel section with a series of gripping teeth 58 in its side flanges serving to effect a gripping action on the sides of a molded plastic ring 59, having flexible finned lugs 61 extending in series about the ring 59 and adapted for engagement with the ground surface and serving when assembled upon the rim 51 to support the road vehicle and give a cushioning action to the same. The metal mounting rings 57 are welded to the bars 52 and will be spaced from one another in much the same manner as shown in FIG. 6 to allow for a free passage of the road gatherings radially inwardly and outwardly from the tire rim 51. By centrifugal action the same gatherings will be thrown outwardly from the wheel. The lugs 61 are formed as above explained to cast off any accumulations of road gatherings by its swing action upon being made free of the ground surface.

In FIG. 9 a different type of mounting ring 63 is used in which the gripping action is effected by curving inwardly the side flanges of each mounting ring member to compress the rubber and encompass the inner periphery 66 of plastic ring 67 which will be provided with the usual lugs shown and described in connection with the other forms of the invention. The plastic and rubberlike lugged rings may be molded into the metal rings or bonded therewith.

it should be apparent that there has now been provided a plastic molded tire for automobile wheels providing a plurality of spaced rows of integral finned lugs especially shaped to reject road gatherings from the surface of the road and such gatherings as may enter the rim through the spacings between the rows of lugs so that such gatherings within the rim will be thrown outwardly to centrifugal action. ln this manner a plastic molded tire is provided which will be particularly adapted for use in mud and snow and which will maintain itself clean and clear of gatherings and ready at all times for road action.

What is claimed is:

l. A molded plastic lug tire and rim assembly comprising cylindrically shaped tire rim means connected to the rim for the attachment of the rim to a vehicle wheel hub, and rings each of which having a series of tread lugs extending radially therefrom and assembled upon the tire rim, said plastic lugs extending in rows about the assembly and spaced from one another by opposing cut away bevel faces providing finned edges, said bevel faced lugs providing surfaces shaped to rid the lugs of road gatherings upon the lugs being released from their contact with the ground, alternate rows of lugs from the plastic rings having their lugs aligned with the spaces between the lugs of the-adjacent plastic lug rings.

2. A molded plastic lug tire and rim assembly as defined in claim 1 and said rim having outwardly extending ribs running circumferentially about the rim, said ribs being laterally flanged to have gripping engagement with the lugged rings between spaced ribs.

3. A molded plastic lug tire and rum assembly as defined in claim 2 and said tire rim having rows of openings extending thereabout and extending through the flanged ribs.

4. A molded plastic lug tire and rim assembly as defined in claim 1, and said rim having openings extendable through the rim for passing of road gatherings into the rim and outwardly thereof and said lugged rings being laterally spaced from one another upon the rim and metal mounting rings gripping the rings and secured to the rim, the spacings between the rings being aligned with the openings.

5. A molded plastic finned lug tire as defined in claim 4 and said rim being formed of crisscross lattice construction to provide the openings in the rim.

6. A molded plastic lug tire-and-tire assembly, as defined in claim 1, and means for attaching the assembly to a vehicle wheel hub comprising radially extending spokes and a hub sleeve, said spokes interconnecting the interior of the rim and the exterior of the hub sleeve, said hub sleeve having openings for the attachment of the assembly by means of attaching bolts to the vehicle wheel hub. 

1. A molded plastic lug tire-and-rim assembly comprising cylindrically shaped tire rim means connected to the rim for the attachment of the rim to a vehicle wheel hub, and rings each of which having a series of tread lugs extending radially therefrom and assembled upon the tire rim, said plastic lugs extending in rows about the assembly and spaced from one another by opposing cut away bevel faces providing finned edges, said bevel faced lugs providing surfaces shaped to rid the lugs of road gatherings upon the lugs being released from their contact with the ground, alternate rows of lugs from the plastic rings having their lugs aligned with the spaces between the lugs of the adjacent plastic lug rings.
 2. A molded plastic lug tire-and-rim assembly as defined in claim 1 and said rim having outwardly extending ribs running circumferentially about the rim, said ribs being laterally flanged to have gripping engagement with the lugged rings between spaced ribs.
 3. A molded plastic lug tire-and-rim assembly as defined in claim 2 and said tire rim having rows of openings extending thereabout and extending through the flanged ribs.
 4. A molded plastic lug tire-and-rim assembly as defined in claim 1, and said rim having openings extendable through the rim for the passing of road gatherings into the rim and outwardly thereof and said lugged rings being laterally spaced from one another upon the rim and metal mounting rings gripping the rings and secured to the rim, the spacings between the rings being aligned with the openings.
 5. A molded plastic finned lug tire as defined in claim 4 and said rim being formed of crisscross lattice construction to provide the openings in the rim.
 6. A molded plastic lug tire-and-arm assembly, as defined in claim 1, and means for attaching the assembly to a vehicle wheel hub comprising radially extending spokes and a hub sleeve, said spokes interconnecting the interior of the rim and the exterior of the hub sleeve, said hub sleeve having openings for the attachment of the assembly by means of attaching bolts to the vehicle wheel hub. 